Chapter 332 – Moontalks

Chapter 332 – Moontalks

Rob pushed the door closed with his heel, watching them with a grin. “It’s nice to have a full house again. I wasn’t sure we’d get any freshie from the Winter Intake. You are…?”

“Rain Ryuu.” In a single step, the siren reached the stunned newcomer and offered an enthusiastic shake, studying him with an inquisitive smile. “You can call me Rain.”

The new guy doesn’t look that nervous.

Kai waved from the table where he was sitting. “I’m Matthew. Mat is fine.” Searching for his secret weapon, he found Hobbes was snooping in Alden’s room. The fluffball couldn’t be bothered to come.

Just don’t steal anything. Yes, yes, everything the light touches is yours. Still, no borrowing, tasting or breaking stuff. No matter if it seems set for it and makes a nice sound.

“Nice to meet you both.” Rob flexed the hand he used to shake Rain’s. He sauntered inside, running a finger on the sparkling counter, whistling appreciatively. “I don’t think I’ve seen the kitchen this clean even on the first day we got here.” His gaze shifted between them. “Is one of you a Water Summoner?”

“Both of us,” Kai said as he recalled the term. “That’s what you call Water mages, right?”

“Yeah, that’s what most people use,” Rob threw his black coat on a chair and sank into the seat. “Water Summoner, Earth Shaper and Wind Weaver, all the bells and whistles. As people say, mages are the only people too proud to just call themselves mages.” His hand swatted the air with grandiose self-irony. “So they came up with special little titles for each element. Water’s not really my thing. That’s at least half an excuse for not washing the plates. But hey! I can warm the room if you need.” With a fake cough, he blew a stream of flames as if exhaling smoke. The fire flowed almost like a liquid, spiraling into a sphere over his palm.

Once Kai could feel the heat across the table, Rob closed his fist to extinguish it and showed his unscathed palm after a dramatic pause. “I’m a Fire Breather.”

“Ooh!” Rain clapped. “That must have taken a lot of practice.”

“That was smooth,” Kai said with wide eyes. A little flattery couldn’t hurt the first chat with his roommates, and controlling flames with such precision did require considerable skill. Unlike Water and Earth, Fire didn’t like to be shaped and contained, and always tried to spread.

I’d need to reach Green for that level of control without Fire Magic.

“It looks cool, eh?” Rob beamed. “I thought Fire Breather sounded stupid till I learned this trick. And I only burned myself seven or eight times before getting the timing right.” His other hand rose to show a healing burn. “It was so worth it. A Light Bender downstairs told me I couldn’t do it. So I had to, you know. That guy is insufferable. He just shines light through a crystal and puffs up as if that’s impressive.” He scoffed. “What about you? Any hidden talents besides dish washing?”

“I’m best with Water Magic.” Rain made the understatement of the century with a straight face. “Mat’s good with elemental magic. He can cast quite a few.”

“Really?” Rob leaned on the table with an expectant look at him. “C’mon, you must show me. What can you do?”

Alright…

Kai internally rolled his eyes at Rain’s amused gaze. “You already know Water. I’m not very good with Fire, but I can cast Shadow and Nature spells.”

Knowing they expected a demonstration, he dimmed the crystal illuminating the room, masking a thread of green motes creeping toward the ivy on the balcony outside. The wards of the glass door nearly shredded his mana apart, but their focus must be on blocking threats from the outside since he managed to squeeze through.

He let the light return as a tendril of ivy knocked on the glass.

“Who—” Rob jolted to his feet, looking at the waving leaves and back at him. His eyebrows raised, mouth agape. “You’re really a Shadow Walker and Nature Singer! Three major elements! That’s rare. And how did you cast through the wards?”

“They’re weaker on the glass. I can also use a couple other elements.” Kai brushed it off, a little embarrassed by the awed reaction. “Just got lucky, being born with several affinities. Uhm… so do they really have a name for each element?”

“Yeah… At least for the non-conceptual elements, but there must be titles for those, too. I just don’t know them.” Rob sat back. Keen attention replaced his slouched posture. “I know about Metal Forger, Lightning Caller, Darkness Binder and a few others.”

“I see,” Kai hummed, recalling those he had already heard. “What do they call Space mages?”

“Space mages, huh? Those are a rare sight. Most just call them Space Freaks.” Rob chuckled. “I mean, who else would study Space Magic? Years of training without reward and a single mistake will reduce you to a mush of flesh inside a wall. Unless you’re born in House Astares, only weirdos or madmen try it.”

“I heard it was quite a hard element to master.” Rain used a hand to scratch his cheek and cover his smile. “It must take a particular kind of stubborn individual to study it.”

Ah. Ah. You’re so funny.

Kai kicked him below the table and muffled a curse when his toes hit his shin. A bar of iron would have been softer. “Space Magic must be really hard.”

“It’s mind-bending for sure. I respect their efforts.” Rob walked up to a cabinet to take out a cup of lemon snacks, throwing one in his mouth and offering them. “Want one? They’re still good. I bought them yesterday.” He gestured a throw one before Kai could refuse.

Wait—

He raised his hand to catch it. The snack had barely left Rob’s fingers when it disappeared into an iridescent light.

What the fuck.

Kai blinked up at his roommate. Then blinked again and closed his mouth—no need to play up his surprise. His senses didn’t lie, and he was too familiar with that iridescent mana to mistake it for anything else. “You can use Space Magic…?”

“I’m a bit of a freak too, I guess.” Rob took in their astonishment with a lopsided grin. “That’s about the peak of my casting. Calling it a Space spell is a generous. I wouldn’t use it on anything close to my fingers.” He reached toward the sink to pick up the mashed remains of the teleported snack and throw it into his mouth. “Still tastes fine. The House sponsoring me made me keep practicing since I have the affinity, but I doubt anything will come from it.”

Rob leaned back on the counter. “I might cast something useful if I reach green. But it’s more likely that they’ll use me to recharge some spatial artifact or arrays.” His shoulders slouched with a heavy sigh. “Really, man… gathering Space mana is such a pain. You can’t even imagine…” His shoulders lifted in a terse shrug as he looked over the stoves and sink. His head jolted back when it caught a glimpse of silver—far too late for Hobbes. “Did you see that?”

“What do you mean?” Kai furrowed his brows, seeing no reason to ruin the fun so soon. “The sink?”

“Did we miss a spot?” Rain asked. “Or are you hungry?”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Of course, superior magic is hard to cast, buddy. I’m happy you found another acolyte.

Rob rubbed his eyes. “No… nothing. Using Space mana sometimes jumbles my sight. Tell me about you, Mat. You’re really good at cleaning stuff, huh?”

“Yeah… thanks.” Kai took the tease as a compliment. His mind was still on Space Magic; he hadn’t seen anyone who could cast it since Dora, but it didn’t seem the time to prod Rob into a discussion. “I’m decent with Water Magic.” Scrubbing and drying with Water spells left no residue or limescale—a trick his mom appreciated. Still, he didn’t wish to become his roommates’ cleaner. His gaze wandered to the rest of the messy room. “I can help you with the dishes, but not the rest.”

“Uhm… Sorry for the mess.” Scratching his neck with a sheepish look, Rob went to gather his stray clothes in the living room. “You know, I got used to having the whole space to myself in the last month.”

“It’s fine.” Rain waved it off. “I’ve seen worse.”

As long as he doesn’t make it a habit. He’s more easygoing than the other guy.

“You’ve already met Alden?” Rob followed his gaze to the rooms in the hallway. “He’s not the most sociable.”

“I did,” Kai said. “Briefly.”

“Meaning… he shut the door in your face?” Rob chuckled with a knowing look. “Don’t take that personally. He takes a while to warm up to people. If he told you his name, you did fine. We lived here a month before he said more than three words to me. As long as you don’t touch his stuff, he’s one of the easiest patricians to get along with.” His eyes widened in panic. “Uh… I didn’t mean to say that highborns are—”

“It’s fine. Relax. We’re also lowly, lowly commoners.” Kai leaned back in his chair. Rain didn’t seem to mind about human status hierarchies anyway. “We won’t tell a soul.”

“Thanks. That would have been embarrassing.” Rob raked a hand through his hair while he bent to pick up a scarf from the pillows of the couch. From the looks of it, the clothes did all belong to him. Hands full with the bundle and a pair of muddy boots, he kicked the door of his bedroom open and dumped them inside. “Hey, have you picked a room already? It’s been a while since they were filled.”